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Student Club President’s Report
Rachael McDonald and Dr Jennifer McDonald
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In this year’s first edition of Frappe Fort, I wrote about what a pleasure it has been to see everyone embrace opportunities, form lifelong friendships, and embrace this community as our home. I am proud to say that second semester has certainly been no different, even as lockdowns persisted, and we found new ways to live life at College. We’ve hosted a range of social and wellbeing activities to ensure that we all stayed connected and were able to continue creating friendships and memories, most of which were organised by the incredible 2021 Student Club Executive, and our newly elected executive for next year.
Perhaps our biggest achievement, and a true reflection of the community we have fostered here this year, was winning the Intercollegiate Culture Cup – led by our resilient and determined ICAC rep, Juliette Sherrard. The Culture Cup recognised us for our performance in Step Up, the Battle of the Bands (in which our extraordinarily talented team won first place), trivia, theatre sports, debating and the Film Fest.
We certainly showed the other colleges that the love, passion, and die-hard spirit here at UC prevails, making us the best college on the crescent.
We’ve had a big semester of outreach opportunities, organised and led by our generous Community Service Representative Phillipa Smith. A group of us chose to live below the line for a week, in which we were fed by the dining hall for $2 a day. Most remarkably, as a college we were able to raise nearly $20,000 for girls education in Sierra Leone and Uganda by doing everything in a school dress for a week, making us the third highest fundraising team in Australia. A team of remarkable UC men are currently raising funds for Movember, to support men’s mental health and continue spreading awareness for this very important cause. It has been an honour and a privilege to lead this wonderful community, and I leave knowing that it rests in extremely capable hands. I’d like to thank the countless people who have made these past two years an experience I will never forget, and to express my gratitude to everyone who supported me and my executive team along the way. I can’t wait to see what UC continues to do for both its own community and the community around us, and I look forward to staying connected to this wonderful college into the future. Rachael McDonald Student Club President 2nd Year Arts Student University of Melbourne
Hello and goodbye
Even though, as it turned out, we were only able to hold one High Table dinner in Semester 2, we were fortunate that it was the very first one scheduled, on 3 August. This meant we had the opportunity to formally welcome our eleven newest residents to the UC community, inviting them to sign the College Roll.
The Resident Tutors and our 2021 Student Club Executive and Representatives were also in attendance at the High Table to meet and mingle with the new students, and explain to them their respective roles. We also took this opportunity to recognise the return of three students who came to UC in 2020 but had to cut their first year short due to border closures: Emily Tian, Mercedes Woodcroft and Annabel Shaw, all of whom we were delighted to welcome back.
As the semester continued and the lockdown extended, it became clear that it would not be possible to continue High Tables or to hold an all College event such as the Valedictory Dinner. However, recognising that it is important to continue with the formalities around such events in whatever way we can, Valedictory and the Student Executive Handover took place via a webinar for the second year running. Despite the challenges around this and the disappointment of not being physically together in celebration, the event (which also included the Art, Music and Design Awards) was a great success. The virtual format offered the ability to visually and aurally showcase some of the artistic entries in a way that may not have been as effective at a dinner event. The night celebrated the creativity and leadership achievements of our students, and it marked important milestones for 2021, with a view to the year ahead. Rachael McDonald, Student Club President, and Angus North, Student Club Vice-President, were awarded the Head’s Leadership Awards. Allison Meyer was the 2021 recipient of the Valedictory Award. Paul Spasojevic received the Senior Common Room award for outstanding contribution to the academic life of the College throughout the year and facilitating collaboration between the senior and junior common rooms.
Adam Walduck
By late October, the Victoria Roadmap out of lockdown allowed us to confidently plan a series of outdoor dinner events for the students to enjoy before the end of the year.
We decided to recreate the al fresco formal dinners that were so successful last year and worked with our incoming Social Representatives, Emily Seiter and Victoria Wright, to plan out the eight, three-course dinners. The events took place under a marquee in the Roper Courtyard, and ran from 26 October to 11 November. The first of the dinners was the Stakeholders Dinner, designed to thank and acknowledge the 2021 Student Club Executive and Resident Tutors.
For the remaining al fresco events the students took great pride in dressing in their academic gowns and it was delightful to see them genuinely excited to finally be with their friends at a special College event. Each dinner cohort was formally welcomed by the Head of College, the Dean of Students and the Dean of Studies, to thank them for their contributions to the year and to propose a toast to the College. It was undoubtedly another interesting and challenging semester; one that had disappointments, definitely, but also one that brought innovations – a semester we were able to brightly bookend with College events, to remind us of days before and of better times ahead.
Liz Agostino Dean of Students
Lockdown stops plans but not UC spirit
Semester 2 began with a secondary O-Week, themed around the O-lympics. Each corridor was assigned an Australian suburb which they had to represent in a variety of activities, ranging from sports games to the making of a team flag. Ironically, the Wednesday night activity was called ‘celebrating the end of lockdown’, only for it to be reintroduced in week five. This once again required adjustments to the semester’s plans: college tutorials were moved online, events such as the boat cruise had to be cancelled, and the UC musical was filmed instead of performed live. Nevertheless, it was an action-packed semester!
Hilary McKie and Alex Brodie
August, which was only impacted by lockdown restrictions towards the end, saw a range of initiatives. The resident tutors held a careers information night as well as quiet study sessions, the wellbeing team organised a Healthy Relationships webinar and an ice cream van for the day, and student executives and representatives hosted sessions about their roles for those interested in 2022 positions. Moreover, many students participated in Live Below the Line, a charity fundraiser where for one week UC provided meals for under $2 a day and donated the cost difference. The month wrapped up with Open Day, which took place virtually again this year. In September, the kitchen started themed dinners which quickly became a favourite, with dishes from France, the Middle East, India, and Japan served on respective Thursdays. Student-led dinner themes also took place, but in the form of dress up directives, with the themes ‘business on top, party on the bottom’ and ‘dynamic duos’.
The big event of the month was Love Week, where everyone was assigned as a ‘secret admirer’ for another student. The task was to do something nice for your allocated person – which included leaving gifts at their door, hanging posters of them around campus, and such other anonymous ‘displays of love’.
The week also coincided with R U OK? Day, which saw cupcakes and a frozen yoghurt van come to UC. Additionally, a coffee cart came twice throughout the month to boost morale during intensive assessment periods. October commenced with a Valedictory celebration over zoom, where award recipients and Art and Design Week winners were announced. The following week, UC won the Intercollegiate Battle of the Bands and the last themed dinner (British) took place. Finally, with week 14 came the end of lockdown: care packages were handed out, the frozen yoghurt van made another appearance, and Open-Door Day happened where first year students were able to visit different rooms to help them decide which ones they might preference next year. Friend Week also took place. Similarly to Love Week, students who signed up were partnered off, but this time had to ask each other out on a ‘friendship date’. November was the final exam period for most students and thus activities quietened down, but we were able to attend some small alfresco dinners to round off the year. Once again, it may not have been the semester that was planned for, but the UC community came together to work around the challenges and ensure our home was still buzzing with excitement, activity, and plenty of opportunities to get involved in college life.
Penelope Kunzler and Tom Clarkson
Matilda Carlberg, Ewan McGregor Ruby Dawson, Cowboys Have Feelings Too – Childrens Book Casey Speight, Teas Like These – Dave Grohl Teapot
Art, Music and Design Week
After an absence in 2020 due to COVID-19, our student art exhibition was back in semester 2 (albeit virtually). Here we feature a selection of pieces. To view the full exhibition, and read more about the inspiration behind each piece, please visit www.unicol.unimelb.edu.au/news or scan the QR code (desktop viewing is recommended for best performance).
Dr Di Bresciani OAM
Aliyah Mink, NGC 7674 Alex Elder-Hackford, Sitting on the Deck Jared Baum, Wattage
Ruby Dawson, Ophelia Penelope Kunzler, Fast Fashion
Rachel Mooney, Wunderkammer Oliver Sinclair, Viti Collection
Our student exhibition was back and bigger than ever in 2021 – featuring an additional music category for the first time. Although the exhibition could only be held virtually due to restrictions, online software allowed us to digitally display all entries, so the entire UC community can view the submissions.
We received the largest number of entries ever, with over 60 pieces of art, design, photography, music and creative writing on display. Adjudicator and generous supporter of the prizes for the awards, Dr Di Bresciani OAM (UWC 1960) selected the winners in each category. Di said it was really interesting to view the works virtually this year. “One comes to know more about the artists than perhaps one would in the normal exhibition space. I studied each piece before viewing all the material provided. Behind all art there are stories and it was extraordinary to realise how strongly each artist has communicated. Artists and future leaders, already contributors; caring, reaching, layering future pathways.” Thank you to Di for taking the time to choose the winners of the art and music pieces and to Andre (Dean of Studies) and Liz (Dean of Students) for judging the creative writing and poetry submissions. Di announced the winners at a virtual online event in October:
Overall First Prize Winner
Prue Wilkinson – for her drawings in charcoal, paintings on hand-pressed card and canvas, video Starman Selby and sculpture `Help’
Overall Second Prize Winner
Emily Tian – for her watercolour portraiture and oil on canvas
Music Category Winner
Will Hatty – for his original composition F*** COVID Honourable mentions: Katlyn Johnson (Original Composition – Inside My Mind) and Josh Rafter (Original music for animation). Prue Wilkinson, Wally’s Sunbird, This is part of a series of works inspired by the feelings of guilt I felt at my Grandma’s funeral. Through hearing stories about what she was like before I was born, I realised I didn’t know as much about her as I’d thought. I wanted to look through old photos and catch a glimpse of what life was like for her and my Dad growing up.
Art Category Winner
Will McDonald – How Loud Is Silence Honourable mention: Penelope Kunzler (Mini Fashion Zine with surreal compilations of dreams and memories).
Design Category Winner
Sophie Gluskie – Kamakura Honourable mention – Clay Hattam (Poesy of Remnants)
Photography Category Winner
Rachel Dickson – One Foggy Sunrise
Creative Writing/Poetry Winner
Max Griffin – Memorial Service Honourable mention: Winnie Cheng (Phantom)
People’s Choice Award (as voted by students)
There was a four way tie in this category: Tom Clarkson (Cover of Crazy by Gnarls Barkley), Ruby Dawson (Ophelia), Emily Tian (watercolour portraits of Tashi Rodriguez and Younes Kahlaoui) and Penelope Kunzler (Fast Fashion Series).
A big congratulations to all the winners! Special thanks also to Dr Bresciani and her family for generously supporting Art, Music and Design Week, and Matilda Carlberg (Art and Design Representative) for promoting the event and compiling all the works.
Excerpt from Memorial Service by Max Griffin. A lone ball of dust quietly spins itself around over and over for an absent audience, hanging along a thin clothesline with its brothers. Together, they twist and turn around a deflated balloon of gas, in a boundless, pitch black room. Light hasn’t shone on the Earth for a long time. Nothing’s moved on it in even longer. Nothing would ever again breathe its air, drink its waters, or walk its ground. The mother had become an untended cemetery, the names faded and forgotten. Merciless Time had taken all beneath her cold scythe, but none were left to care. The idle skies held a restless tranquillity. Read the full piece at www. unicol.unimelb.edu.au/news
Prue Wilkinson, Charcoal Portraits. “Each portrait is sketched over erased portraits of my Grandma. The three subjects are my Uncle, Poppa and Dad. She’s there, we just can’t see her.”
Sophia Gluskie, Kamakura. “For this submission I decided to enter a three-piece garment I have designed and made. It consists of an entirely felted skirt with a patchwork waistband that draws inspiration from the Viktor and Rolf Fall 2019 Couture collection, as well as specific techniques used in Japanese culture. This garment also consists of a blazer styled jacket with felting detail on the back, a Shibori dyed lining, embroidery detailing and sheer silk sleeves. The last piece is a simple silk camisole top.”
Emily Tian, Watercolour portraits of Tashi Rodriguez and Younes Kahlaoui
Will McDonald, How Loud is Silence. “This series of four works are a depiction of the struggles of mental health and how it can take changing forms.”
